Snatch block



July 4, 1939. w BENTLEY I 2,164,894

SNQTCH BLOCK Filed Feb. 17, 1938 A itorneys Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in snatch blocks, the general object of the invention being to provide means for locking the swingable plate in closed position so that it cannot be moved to open position even though the hook is swung to one side which, in blocks as now made, would permit the said side plate to be moved to open position to permit the line to be placed over the pulley.

Another object of the invention is to make the locking device flush with an enlarged part of said side plate so that it cannot be moved to open position accidentally and to provide detent means for holding it in looking or unlocking position and to provide its exposed end with a kerf so that it can be turned by a screw driver or any other device that will enter the kerf.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of several parts, to be hereim after fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a side view of the improved block looking toward that side which carries the looking means.

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the movable plate in open position.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view with the outer plate removed to show the inner plate which carries the recess and the slot.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the lower part of the swingable plate.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary View looking toward the inner face of the outer reinforcing plate and showing a locking member carried thereby.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view through one of the spindles, taken substantially 88 of Fig. 3.

In this drawing the numerals I and 2 show the two side plates which adjacent one end thereof have holes therein for receiving the pivot bolt 3 for the grooved pulley 4-. The plate 2 has swinging movement on the pivot bolt or a de and has the slightly arcuate slot 5 therein adjacent that end opposite the end through which the axle 3 passes, this slot receiving a spindle 6 extending from one side of a body I in which the shank of a hook 8 is swiveled in the usual or any desired manner, the drawing showing the shank as provided with a reduced part passing through a hole in the body 1 and rotatably held therein by a nut 9 on the threaded end of the reduced part. The opposite spindle is shown at I!) and passes through a hole in the plate I and receives a nut II to hold it in said hole. The spindle 6 has an elongated head I2 having its ends rounded and. its sides flat so that this spindle 6 and the head I2 are in the shape of a T. The small end of the plate 2 has an enlargement on its outer face which is formed by an inner plate I3 and. an outer plate I 4 preferably welded together with the inner plate welded to the plate 2. The inner plate I3 is formed with a slot I5 which has its walls in alignment with the walls of the slot 5 in plate 2 and said plate I3 is formed with a circular hole I6 at the inner end of the slot I5. The plate I 4 is formed with a circular hole I I which is smaller than the hole I6 and coaxial therewith. The locking member is shown at I8 and is of cap shape and of two diameters, the larger being located in the hole I6 in plate I3 and the outer of smaller diameter being located in the hole I! of plate I4, thus after the parts are assembled the plate I4 rotatably holds the locking member I8 in position as will be seen from Figure 3. The larger part of the member I8 is of tubular construction to form a circular recess I9 for receiving the head I2 and a slot 20 which is formed in said part for permitting the passage of the head I2 into and from the recess when said locking member is turned to place the slot 2!] in alignment with the slots 5 and I5.

A detent 2| consisting of a ball and spring, is placed in an opening formed in the plate I4 and passing through a portion of the wall of the opening I1 and the small part of the member I8 is formed with the recesses 22 for receiving a portion of the ball. This detent acts to yieldingly hold the locking member IS in a position with the slot 20 out of alignment with the slots 5 and I5 or in a position with said slot 20 in alignment with said slots 5 and I5. The exposed end of the locking member is formed with a kerf 23 for receiving a screw driver or the like whereby the member can be turned and the plate I4 and said exposed end of the member I8 are provided with the marks 24, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 for indicating when the locking member in a position with the slot 20 in alignment with the slots 5 and I5.

Thus it will be seen that when the locking member I8 is turned to place the slot 20 in alignment with the slots 5 and 15, the spindle 6 and head I 2 can enter the slots or pass therefrom when the hook 8 is turned to the position shown in Figure 2 to align the head l2 with said slots. This will permit the plate 2 to be moved to the open position shown in Figure 2 or to the closed position shown in Figure 1. When moved to the closed position shown in Figiue 1 the hook is moved to a vertical position which will cause the head l2 to turn in the recess l9 and this will prevent the plate 2 from being swung to open position. Then the member I8 is turned to place the slot 20 out of alignment with the slots 5 and I5 and then the plate 2 is locked in closed position and cannot be moved to open position even though the hook 8 is moved to the position shown in Figure 2. Thus in order to release the plate 2 from the hook carrying member it is first necessary to turn the locking member l8 to unlocking position and then move the hook 8 to the position shown in Figure 2 and then the plate 2 can be swung to open position as shown in Figure 2.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a snatch block including a pair of plates, an axle passing through the plates adjacent one end thereof and a pulley carried by the axle, a hook carrying member having a spindle extending from one side thereof passing through a hole adjacent the other end of one plate, a T-shaped spindle extending from the opposite side of the hook carrying member, the other or second plate having an arcuate-shaped slot adjacent its other end and a circular recess at the inner end of the slot, said slot forming a passage for the T-shaped spindle when the hook carrying member has been moved to a certain position and the head of said T-shaped spindle extending crosswise of the slot in the recess when the carrying member has been moved to another position, and a locking member rotatably supported by the other or second plate in said recess and said locking member having a recess therein receiving the head and a slot opening out from the recess of said'locking member forming a passage for the head when the locking member has been turned to a position placing the slot therein in alignment with the slot of the second plate and said locking member locking the T-shaped spindle in the second plate when turned to a position where the slot therein is out of alignment with the slot of the plate.

2. A snatch block comprising a pair of plates, an axle passing through the plates adjacent one end thereof, a pulley located between the plates and carried by the axle, one plate having a hole adjacent its other end, a hook carrying member having a spindle projecting from one side thereof and passing through the hole, a T-shaped spindle projecting from the other side of said member, the other plate having an enlargement adjacent its other end formed with a slot of slightly arcuate shape which passes through a side edge of said other plate and forming a passage for the T-shaped spindle when the hook carrying member has been swung to an angular position relative to the plates and said enlargement having a circular recess therein communicating with the inner end of the slot for receiving the head of the T-shaped spindle, said head extending crosswise of the slot when the hook has been moved to operative position, a circular locking member of two diameters rotatably arranged in the enlargement and having a recess therein for receiving the head and a slot communicating with the recess when the slot is in alignment with the slot of said other plate and locking the head in the recess when the slot is out of alignment with the slot of said other plate, one end of the looking member being flush with the outer face of said other plate and having a kerf therein and detent means for holding the locking member in locking and unlocking position.

3. A snatch block comprising a. pair of plates, a pulley journalled between said plates, a hook carrying member journalled between the plates and including a substantially T-shaped spindle, one of the plates being swingable relative to the other and having a slot therein for the reception of the spindle, said one plate further having a recess therein communicating with the slot, and a locking member rotatably mounted in the recess and having a recess therein provided with an entrance slot for the reception of the head of the spindle.

WILLIAM G. BENTLEY. 

